Menendez Meets with Karzai to Talk… Corruption

Today, Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ), who is under heavy scrutiny for his role in a wide-ranging scandal involving corruption and prostitution, visited with Afghan President Hamid Karzi to talk about … curbing corruption. The meeting at the Presidential Palace focused on Afghan-US relations, the peace process with the Taliban, and electoral issues surrounding the upcoming presidential contest.

According to Karzai’s office, “President Karzai said that Afghanistan needs earnest and sincere cooperation of the international community, particularly of the United States in its fight against corruption. The President called awarding of contracts to relatives and affiliates of Afghan senior officials, a major source of corruption, underscoring that the United States should avoid it.”

advertisement

The irony in the room must have been thick. Menendez is heavily connected with donor Dr. Salomon Melgen, who allegedly helped Menendez jet-set to the Dominican Republic to have fun with hookers. Menendez, meanwhile, lobbied the federal government on behalf of Melgen when they came knocking about Melgen’s bilking Medicare. Menendez’s aide also worked for Melgen’s port security firm – a firm for which Menendez also lobbied.

Menendez is the Chairman of the US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. And no, that isn’t a pun.